Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables viii

Preface ix

Abbreviations and Symbols xi

Language Periods Referred to in the Text xiv

1 Introduction and Overview 1

2 England and English from the Romans to the Vikings 14

3 The Old English Roots of Modern English Spelling 33

4 The Decline and Revival of English in the Middle English Period 65

5 The Franco-Latin Element 86

6 Some Sound and Spelling Developments in Middle and Modern English 173

7 The Greek Contribution 194

8 The Exotic Input 228

9 Reformers, Lexicographers and the Parting of the Ways 293

Glossary of Technical Terms 315

Bibliography 320

Language and Dialect Index 324

Word and Word-Element Index 328

General Index 373

About the Author

Christopher Upward (1938-2002) was a Senior Lecturer inGerman at Aston University in Birmingham until his retirement in1995. For many years Upward was a member of the committee of the Simplified Spelling Society (now known as the EnglishSpelling Society), and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of theSimplified Spelling Society. He was also an Associate Editor of The Oxford Companion to the English Language (1992), andprepared two editions of Cut Spelling: A handbook to thesimplification of written English by omission of redundantletters (Simplified Spelling Society 1992, 1996). George Davidson is a freelance lexicographer, bookcompiler and editor. He has written several books on Englishgrammar, usage, spelling, and vocabulary, such as How toPunctuate (2005) and Improve Your Spelling(2005)., and has edited numerous books, including the150th Anniversary Edition of Roget s Thesaurusof English Words & Phrases (2002). He has formerlyworked as a French teacher and lecturer in linguistics.

Reviews

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Allreaders. ( Choice, 1 October 2012)